could but hope

A form of can but hope — To be unable to do anything (about something) other than hope [with that (+ clause); or (informal) with clause; or with so or (negative) not]; especially with long odds.

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Meanings

verb
  1. pastsimple past of can but hope
Cite this entry
APA

could but hope. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/could%20but%20hope

MLA

“could but hope.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/could%20but%20hope. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “could but hope,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/could%20but%20hope.

Source: could but hope on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.